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January 2010

January 27, 2010

Happy days in Brisbane for Christmas, New Year's, and a good chunk of January. Lots of time to catch up with all the extended family, hang out with my buddies, and generally indulge in some fun and random Brisbane adventures.

Aunty Shell (that's me) even got to take Charlotte and Molly to the Wynnum foreshore playground (with fish'n'chips for dinner afterward), and a few days later, I took Lilli and Sophie to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) for all the kids' craft activities as part of the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT 6)...which was just as fun for this big kid too :)

^ Lilli & Sophie playing in the felt+velcro garden, and the 'keep off the grass' sign outside the Library protecting the stumpy tufty grass that I like so much.

Actually GoMA was so great that I visited several times, making it a cultural trio along with the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland State Library - 3 of my favourite places to frequent whenever I'm in town.

^ clockwise from top left: the men-in-suits-holding-pink-flowers display in the APT6 exhibition; an interestingly hatted stranger on the gallery escalator; Art Gallery exhibit (gotta love a man with a goldfish on his head); and the view through the poinciana tree from the Library window where I sat and borrowed internet access for a while.

Speaking of frequenting, while in Brisbane, I also found myself back at some familiar old haunts for caffeine and breakfast fixes: The Java Lounge in Paddington; the West End Coffee House; the new-ish Campos cafe in New Farm; Rics on the Valley mall; Pearl cafe over at the Gabba; and James St Bistro (although I'm kicking myself for not thinking of going around the corner for coffee at Jamie's instead).

^ my morning latte at the West End Coffee House - awesome Campos coffee!; the colourful + comfortable interior of The Java Lounge (and my morning mega latte). I heart the comfy couches at The Java Lounge!

And thanks to friends, I even discovered a few new places... Georgi took me out to the Logan Rd precinct at the Gabba, which I was delighted to discover has evolved into quite the remarkable little hotspot. We shared tapas at the uber trendy Crosstown Eating House, and afterward, although we'd planned on a few glasses of wine at the 1889 Enotica wine bar, we found the seats there in short supply and the lighting a little too bright, so we ventured over to Pearl cafe for dessert and coffee instead. Oh yeh, that Pearl cafe is, hands-down, one of Brisbane's best cafes in every respect!

And thanks to Ash, another exciting discovery was Au Cirque cafe on Brunswick Street. Although it was closed on the day we'd planned a girly lunch, Georgi and I re-visited later in the week. Its immense popularity meant no chance for sit-down coffee (let alone breakfast!), so we opted for takeaway coffee and took it to the Powerhouse where we could chill out with some street-press and a view overlooking the Brisbane River. Nice.

The Paddington Antiques Centre has always been a real favourite of mine, so I revelled in the chance to spend a good portion of a day here, snapping photo opportunities galore. Oh hell yes. Very snap-happy.

And then there were all the various other op shops and retro havens along Latrobe Tce, Paddington. So. Much. Fun.

And photography has to be the ultimate in cheap and light souvenirs! ;)

(Which reminds me... I've finally started to breathe new life into my poor old Flickr account, and now loads of new + colourful photos can be found over here at Shelbyville on flickr.)

But alas, all good holidays must reach an end, and a quick flight later I'm back again in fast & furious Sydney, ready for an exciting year ahead, with projects big and small in the pipeline and plenty of plans for more travel... both domestic and international! Oh yes indeed, can hardly wait! :)

January 20, 2010

A quick and slightly belated thanks to all the lovely and enthusiastic people who came along for the bookbinding class I held in Brisbane recently, and to the Design College Australia (DCA) for providing such an excellent venue for the class.

And also thanks to Georgi, you lovely lady, for taking photos of and during the class :)

^ cutting, folding, poking, sewing...

^ almost there...

^ busy little bookbinders

^ taaaaa daaaaa...

^ and Georgi's finished book

And if you missed this first one, we're planning to hold a second class in Brisbane later this year, possibly in the new Myrtle Street Studio which is presently under development. Myrtle Street Studio is a project of my dear friend Jay Dee Dearness, and will be a new independent ARI (Artist Run Initiative) incorporating a gallery space, specialist book/print retail store, and an artist studio/workspace. Perfect for undertaking adventures in bookbinding whilst surrounding yourself with wonderful art!

If you're potentially interested in attending the next Bris class and would like to receive an email when the date + location are finalised, please drop me a line at:

January 05, 2010

There are still a few available spaces in the class, so if you're interested and are available this Sunday afternoon, please email me at michelle@shelbyville.com.au and I will send you all the details about what to bring, etc.

Details about the class:

Date:

Sunday 10th January

Time:1-4pm

Length of class:

Approx 3 hours

Location:

DesignCollege of Australia

200 Barry Pde, FortitudeValley

Book type:

Handsewn softcover leatherbound book. Your choice between either an A6-sized book or a miniature-sized book (with or without closing tab).

Cost:

$55 per person, includes all the bookbinding materials, and templates + instructions to take home along with your handmade book.

This album shows some of the artworks I've done over the years, and covers a range of mediums including coloured pencil, charcoal, pastel, oils, watercolour, polymer clay, photography, architectural renderings, and a whole mix of others. 'Mix' is a good word...